scottmoyer

Ok, the secrecy behind me needing the cars from Norwood is now behind us! There was a question/answer session today in Cincinnati with the UAW employees, management and engineers from the factory. It was supposed to be secret because the organizer and the UAW didn't want a million people showing up and asking non pertinent questions.

This was also supposed to be an opportunity for the car owners to be represented in books and magazines. Muscle Car Review had exclusive media rights to the event. There is also a book being written about the Norwood factory and these cars should be in it. That's why I was looking for near mint cars.

Unfortunately, I was not able to go due to a last minute family situation, but TGO was represented by Okfoz, JT, JasonE with his blue Trans Am and Mark, 89Resto, with his black and gold 85 IROC-Z. I'm looking forward to hearing the details of the event and hope it was worth the trip for everyone involved.

Jason E

Just checking in I'm currently operating on one hour of sleep, after driving 12.5 hours back from the event (dropped off the trailer at UHaul at 5 AM, got home and settled by about 5:45).

Attached are some pics I got of the third gen participants Mark's IROC is a beautiful original example, and it was a pleasure to meet him and his wife. It was also a lot of fun to meet John (okfoz) and JT...I hope Matt and I didn't bore them too much with our relentless, stupid stories

Here's a pic of some of us at least (JT was off somewhere...)...I'm on the left, John (okfoz) in the middle, and Mark (89 Resto) on the right





I apologize for my finger being in the edge of the picture on this last one...I'm too tired to edit it out at the moment

89RESTO

iTrader: (5)

I just got home a little while ago and will get some pic's posted later.I wanted to say that it was surely a pleasure to meet Jason,John, J.T. And last but not least Matt.Jason please thank Matt for me for all his help,he is definitely one of the good guys and u guys have some pretty wild stories.I will have to get him to send me some pic's of his caddy, I would love to see it.
Mark

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Very cool! John you are in the doghouse 4 not telling me about this !!!!!!

Dmans85

Thanks guys for repesenting our generation well and taking the time out of your schedule to do this

ThePain

Coyote850

iTrader: (1)

Great looking cars gentlemen. A fitting tribute to the men and women who built them. TGO was well represented.

Jason E

Mark,
Matt and I have been friends for close to 15 years, and indeed, we have some pretty crazy stories from things we've done. Indeed, Matt's a great guy and has done more for me over the years than I could ever repay. Glad you guys got home safely.

PM me your email address and I will get you some pictures of the Cadillac.

okfoz

It was great to meet JT, Mark, Tonya (Marks wife), Jason and Matt, they are all great people, Mark and Jason have fantastically nice cars. It was too bad that it rained most of the day so we really could not appreciate them as they should have been...

Phil was pissed (can I type that) that the photographer for the mag didn't show. It was also unfortunate that only a handful of people showed. They were all so nice and willing to answer questions... I made it clear that we (at least I) was very appreciative to being invited, it was an honor, a little of a disappointment, but an honor nonetheless. I am glad I went as I seemed to be the only one that was willing to stand up there and ask the ridiculous questions.

The 1st gen guys had some neat questions, to why was the body ID tag painted white on some cars (so they could see it) and things of that nature. For the most part I think we all think we know too much and really were not inclined to ask questions about restorations like 1st and 2nd gen folk are.

It was interesting indeed...

Some things that we came across...

1) All cars went through a wash to look for leaks. The most common places for the leaks were the T-tops (surprise) and the lower part of the windshields

2) If a part was not in stock (The example was rims or tires) then the car would be set off to the side until the correct parts came in.

3) No one could tell me if for sure if there was a template for the decal locations, there probably was, but no one from paint was there to really verify. There was a guy that did the large hood birds for a period tho.

4) Large Hood birds backgrounds were painted to the color of the body, the rest of the decals were clear background.

5) Build Sheets, there was several different build sheets (they had a different name for them) that accompanied the car down the line, they were all to be discarded at the end. One main sheet was to be shipped to the dealer in the car, where it was probably removed.

6) The reason for the closing of the plant really was not known, it was probably a decision that was made and they were going to do it even though it was $400+ less to build the cars in Norwood over Van Nuys. Regardless of the superior paint, and other factors. Fortunately they did not figure that anyone got hurt as most people were relocated to a new job or retired. which was nice to hear.

7) JT and Me went to where the plant was and got some brick shards of the building...

John

scottmoyer

Seems that the word is out on other sites also.

http://camaropacecars.com/eve/forums...6/m/6961084326

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...983#Post459983

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212917

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

Are there any remnants of the norwood plant facility left?

89RESTO

iTrader: (5)

All that remains is the parking structure and some bricks along the railroad tracks. Here are the pic's I took: http://s1176.photobucket.com/albums/x339/89RESTO/

CPC Norwood

I would like to thank everyone from this site who helped put this event together and especially the owners and guests that made the trip. This event was an experiment with the result being a overall success. My two third generation cars are both from LOS so I was out as a third generation participant, but Mark, and Jason really stepped up and these two cars were stellar indeed.

From the third Gen cars, to the original paint 1952 Skyline, to the 1978 z28 also with original paint-and even its original powerbeam headlights, many people simply decided to drive cars to the event from hours away- even in conditions of early morning darkness and rush hour. The stunner was the 1964 SS Nova which was fresh out of the National Corvette Museum Nova display-and the owner drove it to the show.

As I look back upon that day we really got back to the roots of what the hobby is all about, the guys who had the guts to drive them did. The guys who open trailered took the risk and came anyway, and lastly the trailer queens - after seeing the guts of the people who drove and open trailered- actually got the show cars out of the trailers and God forbid...let them get a little wet.

The retirees had a blast, but due to the weather we were 75 retirees short as many of the older people were hesitant to attend with the remnants of Tropical storm Lee stalling out over Cincinatti on the very day of the event,

In closing my hat is off to all of you.